Hi Ray. Thank you so much for taking the time and interest in wanting to collaborate with my Pay Day Thursdays, paying it forward. You are the very first! So Cheers to you.

Ray and I decided to share poetry with song. I gave Ray the freedom to take my poem Gravy Baby and put it to rhythm and turn it into a song. We will share the results of our collaboration at the end of the interview.

Let’s get to know a little bit about Ray.

So let’s start with the basics. What’s your name? How old are you? And where do you live?

My name is Ray Flanagan. I’m 45 years old and live near Charlotte, NC.

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a therapeutic release for the emotions that I was keeping bottled up inside of me.

My blog is primarily about the songs, stories and poems that just come to me, anytime during the day. There are days I write 10 stories, then there are days I only write 1. If you follow my blog, you will see these bursts of creativity on my part when the stories just seem to write themselves.

If you could do anything right now, what would you do and why?

If I could do anything right now, I would ride my bike across the USA. In addition to writing music and stories, I’m a big cycling enthusiast. I ride about 3,000 to 4,000 miles a year. I would love tackle the 3,000 miles in one fell swoop, from NC to CA. I like to challenge myself in life, and it’s no different with my cycling goals I set each year for myself.If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be and why?

If I could meet anyone in the world, I think I would pick to meet Bruce Springsteen. His music (style, story telling, everything) was a huge reason why I picked up a guitar when I was 17 years old. To be able to sit down with him (maybe even play a song with him) and just talk about his musical background and songs that shaped me musically would be a treat unlike no others.What is your idea of a good time?

My idea of a good time is actually quite simple. I would love to be with the woman of my dreams, my soul mate, and just sit her down next to my piano and play for her. Songs I’ve written. Whether they are instrumentals, or a lyrical song with words from my heart that I share with her. Being able to share my gift of music with someone who appreciates it.

What is more important to you challenge or comfort and why?

To me, a challenge is more important to me than comfort. When I approach anything, whether it be music, cycling, photography, cooking, etc… I attack it at 100% effort. I work hard at challenges to become proficient with them enough to turn them into comforts. It doesn’t work the other way around.

Jennifer: I really like that Ray, well said.

How is your home like you?

My home is like “me” because of my hobbies in life. My family room focuses on music, as my piano occupies the central part of the house. My guitar sits right beside my piano. My photography also shines in all rooms of my house, as I have framed pics of barns, cityscapes, and abstract shots framed and hung all around. My garage resembles a Bike Shop at times with my 4 different bikes hung from the ceilings. My neighbors are constantly bringing their bikes over for a tune up, or fix of some sort when they see me working on my bikes. I enjoy helping them out.

If you had to evacuate your home immediately and could only take one thing what would it be and why?

If I had to evacuate my home immediately, the only thing I would grab to take would be my guitar. I couldn’t imagine walking a single day on this planet without her in my hands. Not a single day.

Jennifer: That’s passion right there!

What do you still want to accomplish?

I have many goals I still want to accomplish, but the one that keeps coming back to me has to do with cycling. I want to ride 300 miles in a 24-hour period. Each year, I ride in the “24 Hours of Booty” charity event here in Charlotte, for cancer research. 3 years ago, I rode 202 miles in that time period. 2 years ago, I rode 222 miles. Last year, I only rode 150 miles after throwing my back out at 100 miles. This year may be my year. I’m hoping to accomplish it before I turn 50, so I’ve got a few years left. I will NEVER run a marathon due to my knees. But cycling? Yeah.. I can do that. I can ride a bike forever.

Thank you Ray for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I sure am nosey!

Now for the premiere of GRAVY BABY the song!

A big THANK YOU to Ray. I love what you did with my poem. For more of his amazing work don’t forget to stop by his blog and see if it’s for you!

Remember to show support, especially those who are waiting for your turn to participate in PAY DAY. You want everyone to give you a look too right?

Thank you for participating in my first edition of PAY DAY paying it forward on Thursdays. There are more fantastic collaborations on the way.

Stay tuned for next week when I have a 10 verse each, verse to verse, poetry battle against The Running Father and you get to decide who wins!

(yes, yes I know we are all winners..)

If you are interested in participating in PAY DAY please send me your ideas for collaboration by email at writingsofamrs@outlook.com

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21 comments

What a success. That song and your words… perfect together. Transformed. Beautiful. And you are really throwing down the gauntlet for next week Hmmmm? Hehehe yes. Of course we are both winners but we gonna have FUN jousting our mutual success…….

Thank you Jennifer for CHALLENGING me with your poem. You stated it beautifully in your introduction video of how every poem has a flow, a beat, a rhythm and a MELODY to it. When I was initially reading it, this chord progression came to mind and I created what you are watching right now. I have had songs take me YEARS to write and others, simply minutes to pen. This was a quick song for me… it fell into cadence naturally and easily for me. This style of singing is not my normal style, so thank you for pushing me to expand my “genre” basically. I wish your blog NOTHING but success. Your passion is clear for anyone to see in your stories and your desire to Pay Back. Thank you again. I am honored to be the 1st collaborator here. I had a lot of fun with this song.

I want to share my thoughts and ideas with the world through writing. So I will Blog about my journey towards becoming a published, read author/writer/blogger, while sharing my self, my musings, thoughts, books and poetry with you along the way. Hopefully together we can walk away from this journey enlightened and successful or in the very least, better acquainted.

Email me at: writingsofamrs@outlook.com

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